Bushnell University senior Isaac Wells, a business administration major with a concentration in management and leadership, is currently completing his internship as a warehouse technician at Stella Lighting, which focuses on lighting products and distribution. Through this experience, Wells is gaining hands-on exposure to business operations while developing practical skills beyond the classroom.
We connected with Wells to learn more about his internship experience and how it is shaping his perspective and career direction.
Internship Experience and Hands-On Learning
Wells’ path to Stella Lighting is not what he initially expected. “It actually wasn’t my first option,” he shared. After another opportunity fell through, he leaned on an existing relationship with president and founder Nathan Wiedemann. What began as a backup plan has quickly become a valuable learning experience.
Drawn by a desire to understand how businesses function at a foundational level, Wells is especially interested in seeing “behind the scenes of what a small business” looks like and the “moving parts that a big business doesn’t teach you.” This motivation drives him to fully engage in his work and take initiative each day.
At Stella Lighting, Wells is learning the daily operations of a business, something that cannot be replicated in a classroom. “Some of the things I learned… I just couldn’t get in the classroom is really the hands-on experience,” he said. His responsibilities include building pallets, organizing inventory, and managing critical shipping documentation such as the bill of lading, “which, without that, it can’t be sent out.”
One project that stands out to Wells involves unloading and processing a 45-foot trailer filled with lighting products. Within a tight three- to four-hour window, Wells and his team sort materials, build pallets, wrap shipments, and complete all documentation. “I was really happy to get that all done,” he reflected, noting the importance of efficiency and teamwork under pressure.
Skills, Growth, and Career Perspective
Beyond technical skills, Wells is developing a deeper understanding of business operations, communication, and growth strategy. Observing how his supervisor interacts with other businesses and explores expanding into consumer markets, particularly through social media, provides insight into the broader scope of running an organization.
“This internship has really guided me into seeing behind the scenes of a small business,” he said. “It makes you appreciate a lot more who you’re working for and what you’re doing instead of just being told what to do.” The experience is also expanding his perspective on future career paths, challenging his previous assumption that he would work exclusively within a large corporation.
Wells also emphasizes the distinction between academic and experiential learning. While coursework provides structure and foundational knowledge, internships teach students “how to get things done when the time matters… when the pressure’s on and things just have to get done.”
Advice and Looking Ahead
Reflecting on his experience, Wells encourages other students to approach internships with intentionality and a willingness to fully engage. “You’re going to learn a lot more than you would in the classroom,” he said, emphasizing that the value of the experience depends largely on how much students invest in it.
While internships are a required component of the Bushnell traditional undergraduate experience, Wells notes that taking initiative and embracing the opportunity can significantly shape what students gain from them. The hands-on environment reinforces practical skills and real-time problem-solving that extend well beyond coursework.
He also expresses appreciation for Bushnell University’s internship program and its practical assignments. “They’re trying to prepare you for the real world,” he said, pointing to resume and cover letter development as tools he is already using in his job search.
Wells’ ongoing experience at Stella Lighting is providing him with practical skills, professional confidence, and a broader understanding of potential career paths.
To learn more about Bushnell’s business program and its academic offerings, visit bushnell.edu/business. To explore internship opportunities and career development resources at Bushnell University, visit bushnell.edu/career-development.